Chapter 52: CHP 52

"Phew"

After my confrontation with Belreck, I felt exhausted.

'My abilities evolved to be on par with a real swindler, so it isn't difficult to deal with him but it's still annoying.

If I want to get something done, I have to quarrel with him for more than ten minutes, every time.

Because, of course he hates me, and is behaving like a person forced to partake in a crime.

But the result is the same every time. So I don't understand why he insists to always repeat this meaningless rebellion?

Haa...I think that the youngest is a lot more mature than the second son of this family.

But still Enrique is too mature for his age. I was surprised when he treated me with the same respect as an actual teacher.'

"Thank you for taking the time to teach me today."

"Thank you again for the lesson, sister."

'His mature way of speaking with me, for some reason, makes me feel like an old woman.

I wanted to get closer to him, so I made up an appropriate excuse with the lessons, but every time I find another reason to spend more time with him it goes in a totally different direction from what I had intended.

Huh? Enrique!'

Speaking of the devil and he appeared. I saw Enrique in the distance.

The flower arrangement in August was exceptionally colorful and Enrique, standing there upright between the roses in full bloom while a warm breeze blew through his silver hair for some reason made him look colorless.

Then Enrique, who was pale as a blank piece of paper, quickly slipped through the bushes and disappeared in the separate building.

'What is going on? He looked very depressed.'

I frowned when I saw the small figure looking tired like an overworked adult.

...

"I heard that even though you ranked 1st place there is not much difference between the 2nd place and the 1st place compared to last semester, young Master.

Duke Seymour has specially assigned you a famous tutor. The sons of other families don't have this kind of privilege, so you have to work harder to not disappoint the Lord and not be hated by your family."

Just as the nanny, Madame Carol said, he knew that he had to work hard, but he really didn't want to lift a finger.

Summer was Achilles heel for a child. Enrique felt the scorching heat, mercilessly pressing down on his shoulders, especially now in August, his body felt very heavy like he was wearing padded clothes soaked in water.💦

'I'm tired.'

Enrique, who was continuously solving an endless mountain of homework left by his tutor, looked down at the tapestry despictin an heroic story with a blank expression.

'I have to finish my homework.'

But he felt his body continuing to droop from fatigue.

Every night Enrique had the same nightmare, that he was drowning in a black swamp and a snake was keeping his legs tied together so he couldn't escape to swim up.

Every time he woke up from his nightmare, he couldn't fall asleep anymore because of the fear, so he tossed and turned the whole night.

Since Enrique was still a child his physical strength was weak to begin with, so not being able to sleep properly at night made him feel lethargic during the day.

Enrique looked at the viper that was about to devour the hero despicted on tapestry with empty eyes, but then suddenly got up.

It was because of the person that immediately came to his mind when he thought about a viper.

His mind was dazed before, but now he came to his senses.

'Today is big sister's tutoring day!'

The moment he remembered that he forgot about his lesson, he felt a chill going down his spine.

'Idiot!'

They made a promise to go to the library at this time every week so that she could teach him.

"Young Master! Are you going to the library again to read books? Did you finish your homework for today?"

The nanny called him with a stern tone and face, but Enrique didn't respond instead he rushed out of the separate building, running to the library.

'I am 30 minutes late. It's all over

sister isn't an understanding person.'(⁠｡⁠ŏ⁠﹏⁠ŏ⁠)

While he was gasping for air feeling anxious a white face and purple hair came into his field of view.

"It is so hot today, take your time."

"Ahh, ahh...sorry, I'm late big sister. We made a promise and I have to keep it..."

"Don't worry so much. I won't get mad at you for being late after all I am generous with my disciples."

His sister reaction was unexpected. She even looked at him with warm eyes, so Enrique bowed his head in surprise.

'It feels weird.'

He always compared his older sister with a viper because he felt that she glared at him with fierce eyes like that of a viper, so he felt that he had to put up a barrier, like a hedgehog his thorns, towards his sister who did not hide her displeasure with him.

But in recent days, Enrique was getting more and more confused about who his sister really is.

During classes, there were times when he felt that the eyes looking at him were friendly. His sister was more complicated to understand than poetry in which contradictory sentences always appeared.

'But I can't let my guard down.'

Enrique felt that he may get bitten painfully if he puts his barrier down.

However, despite feeling uneasy he still went to meet his sister at the library every week, and not only because he had a great interest in formulas, Enrique wanted to check something as well.

"Come here."

His older sister tapped the seat next to her. When he, carefully, sat down, she pulled the bellpull and asked a servant to bring drinks and snacks.

"It is very hot today. Isn't it?"

His sister spoke with a soft and gentle voice that tickled his ears. Feeling strange again, Enrique fidgeted with the moist cup and lowered his eyes hidden between his silver thick eyelashes.

"Enrique."

"Yes?"

"After drinking this, go inside and rest. You may get sick if you study too hard on a hot day like this."

"Go inside?'

His heart sank at the sudden order to leave.

'"I'm sorry for being late..."

"Wait."

Deborah interrupted his sentence with an urgent tone to her voice.

"I meant for you to rest because you don't look good. But since you have such a strong will to learn, let's review what we have done until now."

Then she opened a textbook, the writing was somewhat angular and unique, so Enrique easily figured that she wrote the book herself.

He had many tutors over the years, but his sister was the only teacher who wrote a textbook herself, just for him.

'Does this mean that she really wants to take me as a disciple?'

Enrique had never gotten a wrong answer to the problems she had been giving him.

'But she isn't particularly interested in my test results.'

His nanny always admonished him with bitter words, saying that if his rank and grades went down, he would not be able to live up to the expectations the head of the household had for him.

But his sister was the opposite.

"The problem must have been difficult, but you are always patient and try to solve everyone."

She always valued his hard work and encouraged him to try something new every time even though it was difficult, that made Enrique feel great.

"Oh my Goodness, it's cc-cute."

"What?"

"Your hh-handwriting is cute..all round. Hahaha"

Enrique was often confused by the strange things she said, but he still, little by little began to relax. His stiff shoulders gradually dropped as he attentively listened to his sister's voice.

"You have to do an addition here, and if you substitute the numbers then..."

During this lesson his sister's voice felt especially soft and warm so it sounded like a lullaby in his ears.

While he was reviewing the lessons, Enrique, who was atentatly listening to her calm voice, felt his head falling forward at some point.

'Ahh, I'm sleepy...'

As he listened to his sister's soft voice, his eyelids were getting heavier and heavier. His sister's long purple hair fluttered like a curtain giving off a pleasant scent that made him feel even more drowsy.

Enrique was, vaguely, aware that the person in front of him was not a viper and that he could let his guard down,

although he never wanted to admit it, deep down he knew she wasn't that bad.

'This isn't good.'

Enrique quickly pinched his thigh hard but he was still sleepy because he couldn't sleep at night all because of the terrifying nightmare so in that moment he couldn't help but let his sleepiness overwhelm him and his vision soon turned black.

Enrique fell asleep enveloped by the warm sunlight that was coming through the window, dreaming about something nice after a long time.

...

'Is he asleep?'

Enrique showed a different side of himself today.

'He usually comes on time without fail, but today he was late, and had a messy look unlike his usual tidy one. And now he even fell asleep during class. I wonder why?

The fact that Enrique, who is always concentrated with an upright demeanor, suddenly collapsed can only mean one of two things: either his vigilance towards me has lowered a little or he is extremely tired.

Haaa...I wish it was the former, but considering how he looks today, it seems to be the latter.'

I sighed while looking at Enrique's dark eyes and his pale, tired face.

'What could be troubling him so much, at such a young age? He even fell asleep because he was so tired.

He is making me feel more and more concerned about him, he is too mature for his age.'

Seeing him so lonely in the flower garden the other day made me remember my past self, for some reason he seemed to be burdened by a lot of things, and it made me feel many conflicting feelings deep down.

I was always told that I was a mature and good-natured child, so because I didn't want to see my mother upset because we struggled with money I often gave up what I had to my older sister and younger brother.

'Grandma often said that I was a quiet child who didn't cause any trouble. Of course, I was never as smart or cute as Enrique.

Speaking of which, he is sleeping really well.'

So I kept looking at Enrique who was sleeping cutely.

Enrique, sleept until sunset when the evening sun colored the sky in many different shades of red and orange, then he suddenly got up startling me.

"O my Goodness!"

Enrique exhaled loudly while a piece of paper, that was glued to his cheek, fell down. He looked at me with his sleepy face filled with confusion.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep. Why did I suddenly fall asleep? I'm sorry..."

"I am a generous teacher who does not get angry. Don't worry."

But Enrique didn't listen to me at all, he was probably shocked that he fell asleep during class.

"Sister you accepted me as your disciple, gave me lessons every week and made a textbook for me... but I was late and fell asleep during class. I must be a big disappointment to you."

Enrique said with big watery eyes .

The uncomfortable feeling I felt before grew bigger.

'Enrique is dignified and very strict about his faults compared to other children his age.'

"Why are you saying that?"

I lightly grabbed Enrique by the shoulder, to stop him from panicking even more.

"I am not disappointed with you at all. To be honest, I thought you were very cute when you were sleeping."

I pointed to the corner of his lips that was smudged with dry saliva and handed him a handkerchief. Enrique's pale cheeks then turned as red as apples.

'Ahh, I forgot, he doesn't like to be told he's cute.'

Because he thought that she treated him like a child, Enrique quickly jumped from his seat.

'But he really is a kid, isn't he?'

I quickly grabbed Enrique, who was going to run away and held him by my side.(⁠つ⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)⁠つ

"Alright, alright! I will take back the word cute!"

"Let me go!"

"Instead I will say that you are cool. Our Enrique is the coolest person in the world, even if he sleeps like a log and drools."

"D-Don't make fun of me!"

I smirked and then let him go.

'He looked very tired before, but now he seems to be a bit more energetic.'

Enrique's earlobes and the nape of his neck were as red as apples only because I teased him a little.😁

But I still continued to tease him, following the fuming Enrique everywhere.

"Enrique, are you still angry?"

"..."

"I wasn't making fun of you. I only said that because you are really cool."

"Liar!"

"Ahem... So you are saying that your noble teacher is lying to you?"

"Ugh."😣

I lightly stroked the trembling boy's hair, and repeated the word cool several more times.

"Since your older brothers faces are considered a national treasure, you too will grow up to be very handsome. Maybe you will be much taller than me."

Enrique puffed his white cheeks and pouted, but didn't shake off my hand with which I was stroking his hair.

"Young Master!"

Enrique, who entrusted me with his head with a sullen cat-like expression, trembled and stepped back when he heard his name being called by a high-pitched voice.

Then a middle-aged woman with a strict expression approached me and Enrique.

"Who are you?"

"Greetings, Princess Deborah. I am Madame Carol, Young Master's nanny."

Enrique who just moments ago was acting cute and spoiled, changed his demeanor again, and put on a polite and mature expression when his nanny appeared.

"The Young Master has troubled the Princess until such late hours. We will take our leave now."

"Wait. Who did you say troubled me? Don't say things like that without knowing what is really going on. Be careful with your words."

I calmly glared at her, and I saw embarrassment flashing across the middle-aged woman's face.

"I am the one who held him back. Enjoy your dinner, Enrique."

"..."

"See you again next time, little brother."

Enrique, who was blinking his eyes in surprise, bowed his head politely at me and followed his nanny to the separate building.

'Hmm.'

The uncomfortable feeling that I had before was getting stronger and stronger,

and I couldn't just go on like this.

................